Three-Dimensional Charge Trapping NAND Cell with Discrete Charge Trapping Film

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional charge trap semiconductor device is constructed with alternating insulating and gate layers stacked over a substrate. During the manufacturing process, a channel hole is formed in the stack and the gate layers are recessed from the channel hole. Using the recessed topography of the gate layers, a charge trap layer can be deposited on the sidewalls of the channel hole and etched, leaving individual discrete charge trap layer sections in each recess. Filling the channel hole with channel material effectively provides a three-dimensional semiconductor device having individual charge trap layer sections for each memory cell.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to forming three-dimensionalcharge-trapping memory cells in a semiconductor device, and specificallyto forming three-dimensional charge trapping memory cells with discretecharge trapping films.

2. Related Art

Charge trap semiconductors have become commercially viable for use inflash memory devices. In recent years, three-dimensional charge-trapsemiconductor devices have been developed, which allow for memory cellsto be constructed in both a horizontal and vertical matrix, therebyincreasing memory capacity.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional three-dimensional charge-trapsemiconductor device 100. The semiconductor device 100 includes aplurality of channel devices 140 vertically supported by a substrate110. A cross-sectioned channel device 140A is illustrated in theforeground of FIG. 1 for ease of understanding, and is representative ofeach of the other channel devices 140. As can be seen from the channeldevice 140A, the channel devices 140 each pass through a correspondingselect gate 170 and a plurality of control gates 160. Shortly beforereaching the control gates 160, the channel device 140A becomessurrounded by a charge trap layer 150A (e.g., an ONO layer). Similarcharge trap layers 150 are disposed on the other channel devices 140 ator near the control gates 160.

A memory cell is represented by each overlapping combination of acontrol gate 160 with a channel device 140 and ONO layer 150. Thechannel devices 140 are connected between corresponding bit lines 120and source lines 130 used for addressing the various memory cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

Embodiments are described herein with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicateidentical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, generally, theleft most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in whichthe reference number first appears.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventionalthree-dimensional semiconductor device;

FIG. 2 illustrates a vertical cross-sectional view of an exemplarythree-dimensional semiconductor device according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 3A-3L illustrate vertical cross-sectional views of an exemplarysemiconductor device at select steps of its manufacture according to anembodiment;

FIGS. 4A-4H illustrate vertical cross-sectional views of an exemplarysemiconductor device at select steps of its manufacture according to anembodiment;

FIGS. 5A-5H illustrate vertical cross-sectional views of an exemplarysemiconductor device at select steps of its manufacture according to anembodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart diagram of an exemplary method for makinga three-dimensional semiconductor device according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart diagram of an exemplary expanded methodfor making a three-dimensional semiconductor device according to anembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Deficiencies of Conventional Devices

As can be seen from the conventional three-dimensional charge-trappingsemiconductor device 100, the charge trap layer 150 is made to becontinuous between consecutive control gates 160. In other words, eachcharge trap layer 150 is used by multiple memory cells (combination ofcontrol gate 160 and corresponding channel device 140). Thisconfiguration can result in memory loss. Specifically, charge canmigrate/move within the charge trap layer 150. Consequently, charge canaccumulate between control gates 160, which can affect conductivity ofthe channel devices 140. This can cause bit errors, which can lead tomemory loss.

Therefore, an improved three-dimensional semiconductor device is needed,which uses discrete charge trapping films for individual memory cells.

Exemplary Semiconductor Device

FIG. 2 illustrates a vertical cross-sectional view of an exemplarythree-dimensional semiconductor device 200 according to an embodiment.The semiconductor device 200 includes a layered stack 201 disposed overa substrate 210 that includes a plurality of control gates 260alternating with a plurality of insulating layers 290. A mask 295 can bedisposed over an upper surface of the stack 201.

A channel hole 245 is provided through the stack 201, which is filledwith channel material to form a channel device 240. As shown in FIG. 2,each control gate 260 has its own charge trap layer section 255 that isseparated from the charge trap layer sections 255 of the other controlgates 260. These discrete charge trap layer sections 255 can be formedto be independent of each other through the use of a unique recessedcontrol gate topography, in which the control gates 260 are recessedfrom the channel hole 245, as will be discussed in further detail below.The charge trap layer sections 255 each include a portion of a chargetrap layer 250 that includes a silicon nitride layer 254 disposedbetween a first silicon dioxide layer 252 and a second silicon dioxidelayer 256.

With this configuration, each memory cell 298 (which includes a combinedcontrol gate 260 and channel device 240) has its own distinct chargetrap layer section 255. As a result, charge stored in the charge traplayer sections 255 is unable to migrate to nearby charge trap layers, orto charge trap material between control gates, as in the conventionaldevices. This greatly improves device performance, and significantlyreduces bit error rates due to charge migration in the charge traplayers.

The semiconductor device 200 of FIG. 2 illustrates one non-limitingexample of a three-dimensional semiconductor device according to thepresent disclosure. Multiple semiconductor configurations and theircorresponding manufacturing processes will now be described in detailwith respect to FIGS. 3-6.

Semiconductor Device with Separate Gate Elements

FIGS. 3A-3L illustrate vertical cross-sectional views of an exemplarysemiconductor device 300 at select steps in its manufacture according toan embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, a plurality of insulating layers 390 and aplurality of gate layers 365 are initially disposed over a substrate 310in an alternating manner to form a stack 301. The insulating layers 390may include an oxide material, for example. The gate layers 365 may beformed of a nitride material, which acts as a placeholder for a futuregate material, or may be formed of a polysilicon material, which can beused as the gate material directly. In an embodiment, an insulatinglayer 390 is a bottommost and uppermost layer of the stack 301. In anembodiment, a hardmask 395 is deposited over the uppermost layer of thestack 301. As shown in FIG. 3B, a channel hole 345 is then formed in thestack 301. The channel hole 345 can be formed, for example, using atleast one of lithography and dry etching. The dry etching can beperformed using any of a number of well-known dry etching chemicals,including CF₄, CH₂F₂, and CHF₃ to provide some examples.

Once the channel hole 345 has been formed in the stack 301, the gatelayers 365 are recessed from the channel hole 345, as shown in FIG. 3C.In other words, edges of the gate layers 365 that are adjacent thechannel hole 345 are set back from the channel hole 345 as compared tothe edges of the insulating layers 390. One option for recessing thegate layers 365 is by performing a wet etch. In an embodiment, the wetetch is highly selective to target the gate layers 365, and can employany acceptable wet etching chemical known in the art, such as forexample hot phosphoric acid thr SiN wet etch.

After recessing the gate layers 365, a charge trap layer 350 can bedeposited on the exposed surfaces of the stack 301, as shown in FIG. 3D.The charge trap layer 350 may represent an ONO layer, which includes,for example, a silicon nitride layer 354 disposed between a firstsilicon dioxide layer 352 and a second silicon dioxide layer 356 a. Inan embodiment, the silicon nitride layer 354 can be a silicon-richnitride. The charge trap layer 350 can be deposited using any acceptabletechnique, including thermal growth, atomic layer deposition (ALD), orlow-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), and should be depositedone layer at a time.

After depositing the charge trap layer 350 on the exposed surfaces ofthe stack 301, a second etch is performed to remove portions of thecharge trap layer 350 that are not contained within the recessed areasof the gate layers 365 of the stack 301. In an embodiment, this etchshould be an anisotropic dry etch in order to remove only the portionsof the charge trap layer 350 that are not recessed. As shown in FIG. 3E,the charge trap layer 350 is removed from the uppermost surface of thestack 301, as well as from the channel hole 345. Due to the uniquerecessed topography of the gate layers 365 of the stack 301 at thisstep, the etching of the exposed charge trap layer 350 results inindividual charge trap layer sections 355 at corresponding gate layers365, which will later become control gates 360.

In order to complete the charge trap layer sections 355, the charge traplayers 350 within those charge trap layer sections 355 should berepaired to replace the silicon dioxide layers removed by the dry etch.Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3F, the remaining silicon dioxide layer 356a is removed. This is done to prevent double-layering the inner silicondioxide layer when the silicon dioxide is reformed. The removal of theremaining silicon dioxide layer 356 a can be performed by an oxide wetstrip, for example.

As shown in FIG. 3G, once the remaining silicon dioxide layer 356 a isremoved, a new silicon dioxide layer 356 b can be deposited on thesidewall surfaces of the channel hole 345. As with the originaldeposition, the new silicon dioxide layer 356 b can be deposited usingany of thermal growth, ALD, or LPCVD. The deposition of the new silicondioxide layer 356 b effectively completes the charge layer sections 355,and can be continuous between adjacent charge trap layer sections 355.Therefore, the channel hole 345 can be filled with the channel materialto form the channel device 340, as shown in FIG. 3H. In the completedsemiconductor device 300 (as illustrated in FIG. 3H), separate memorycells 398 (comprising of overlapping gate layer 365, channel device 340,and charge trap layer section 355) include separate charge trap layers.The result is a vertical NAND string that contains the multiple memorydevices 398.

As discussed above, the gate layers 365 can be originally formed of apolysilicon material or a nitride material. A benefit of forming thegate layers 365 of a polysilicon material is that the polysiliconmaterial can be used directly as the final control gate elements.Therefore, once the channel device 340 is formed (see e.g., FIG. 3H),the semiconductor device 300 is complete, with the channel device 340acting as a first functional element and the gate layers 365 acting assecond functional layers of the semiconductor device. However, thisapproach restricts the control gate elements to the polysiliconmaterial.

On the other hand, by forming the gate layers of the nitride material,the final control gate elements can be formed of any desired material.However, this approach requires additional steps, as will be discussedin detail below with respect to FIGS. 3I-3L.

As discussed above, FIGS. 3I-3L illustrate additional processing stepsneeded to complete the semiconductor device 300 when a nitride materialis initially used for the gate layers 365. Specifically, because thenitride material acts only as a placeholder for gate material, andbecause the nitride material can not be used as a gate material itself,it is necessary to access and remove the nitride material from the stack301, and to replace it with gate material.

In order to access the nitride material, a gate access trench 368 isformed in the stack 301 around the channel hole 345, as shown in FIG.3I. The gate access trench 368 should be formed around the channeldevice 340, with a spacing between the gate access trench 368 and thecharge trap layer sections 355 in order to provide an area for futuregate material to be deposited. The gate access trench 368 can be formedby a dry etching process, such as described above for forming thechannel hole 345.

Once the gate access trench 368 has been formed, the nitride material ofthe gate layers 365 can be removed, as shown in FIG. 3J. This can beperformed by a selective wet etching process. In an embodiment, the wetetching includes using a hot phosphoric acid to remove the nitridematerial. Once the nitride material has been removed, the spaces leftbehind by the removed nitride material can be filled with the gatematerial 362, as shown in FIG. 3K. The gate material 360 can bedeposited using chemical vapor deposition, for example.

As a result of the gate material deposition, gate material 362 may bedeposited on the sidewalls of the gate access trench 368. This isundesired, as it effectively shorts the different gates 360 to eachother. Therefore, a subsequent dry etch can be performed to remove thegate material 362 from the sidewalls of the gate access trench 368, asshown in FIG. 3L. The remaining gate material 362 disposed adjacent thecharge trap layer sections 355 each results in a control gate 360 forcontrolling one or more memory cells 398. This effectively completes thesemiconductor device 300, with the channel device 340 acting as a firstfunctional element and the control gates 360 acting as second functionalelements. The result is a vertical NAND string that contains themultiple memory devices 398.

As shown in each of the semiconductor devices 300 illustrated in FIGS.3H and 3L, by forming the semiconductor device 300 with the recessedgate layer topography, separate and distinct charge trap layer sections355 can be formed for each memory cell 398. This configuration reducescharge migration within the charge trap layer to other memory cellsand/or areas between memory cells, thereby reducing potential bit errorsand/or other memory failures.

It should be noted that, although the above description and relatedfigures describe constructing a single column of memory cells in asemiconductor device, the above steps can be repeated for any number ofcolumns of memory cells.

Semiconductor Device with U-Shaped Channel Device

FIGS. 4A-4G illustrate vertical cross-sectional views of an exemplarysemiconductor device 400 at select steps in its manufacture according toan embodiment.

In some circumstances, it may be preferred to manufacture thesemiconductor device with a U-shaped channel device. For example, theU-shaped channel device may provide for an increased number of memorycells in a given area, and may reduce manufacturing steps. As with theabove examples, by using a unique gate layer topography, a semiconductordevice with a U-shaped channel device can be manufactured to havediscrete charge trap layer sections, as shown in detail below withrespect to FIGS. 4A-4G.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a substrate 410 has embedded therein a sacrificial(SAC) layer 414 disposed on an etch-stop layer 412. A plurality ofinsulating layers 490 and gate layers 460 are disposed in an alternatingmanner over the substrate 410 to form a stack 401. In an embodiment, aninsulating layer 490 disposed as a bottommost layer and an uppermostlayer of the stack 401. In an embodiment, a hard-mask layer 495 isdisposed over the uppermost surface of the stack 401.

Channel holes are 445 a and 445 b are formed in the stack 401, as shownin FIG. 4B. The channel holes 445 a and 445 b are preferably spacedapart from one another and extend partially into the SAC layer 414. Thechannel holes 445 can be formed using at least one of lithography anddry etching, as discussed above with respect to the channel hole 345.

Once the channel holes 445 have been formed in the stack 401, the gatelayers 460 are recessed from the channel holes 445, as shown in FIG. 4C.In other words, edges of the gate layers 460 that are adjacent thechannel holes 445 are set back from the channel holes 445 as compared tothe edges of the insulating layers 490. At this time, the SAC layer 414can also be removed. The recessing of the gate layers 460 and theremoval of the SAC layer 414 can be performed in subsequent wet etches,or by a single wet etch, depending on a material of the SAC layer 414.The wet etch can employ, for example, TetraMethylAmmonium Hydroxide(TMAH). The removal of the SAC layer 414 connects the channel holes 445a and 445 b by a channel hole bridge 445 c.

Once the gate layers 460 have been recessed and the SAC layer 414 hasbeen removed, the charge trap layer 450 can be deposited, as shown inFIG. 4D. The charge trap layer 450 may represent an ONO layer having theconfiguration described above, with a silicon nitride layer 454 disposedbetween a first silicon dioxide layer 452 and a second silicon dioxidelayer 456 a. In an embodiment, the silicon nitride layer 454 is asilicon-rich nitride. The charge trap layer 450 can be deposited usingany acceptable technique, including thermal growth, atomic layerdeposition (ALD), or low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), andshould be deposited one layer at a time. As shown in FIG. 4D, thedeposition of the charge trap layer 450 will result in the charge traplayer 450 coating all exposed surfaces of the semiconductor device,including an uppermost surface, inner and outer sidewalls of the channelholes 445 a and 445 b, and top and bottom surfaces of the channel holebridge 445 c.

After depositing the charge trap layer 450 on the exposed surfaces ofthe stack 401, a second etch is performed to the charge trap layer 450at the channel holes 445 a and 445 b. This etch should be an anisotropicdry etch in order to remove only the portions of the charge trap layer450 that are not recessed. As shown in FIG. 4E, the charge trap layer450 is removed from the uppermost surface of the stack 401, as well asfrom the channel holes 445 a and 445 b. Due to the unique recessedtopography of the gate layers 460 of the stack 401 at this step, theetching of the exposed charge trap layer 450 results in individualcharge trap layer sections 455 at corresponding gate layers 460. In anembodiment, the etching of exposed charge trapping layers 450 involvesonly layers 456 a and 454.

Because the charge trap layer 450 is also effectively “recessed” withinthe channel hole bridge 445 c (underneath the stacked layers), a portionof the charge trap layer 450 also remains within the channel hole bridge445 c. However, as this portion is separated from the other charge traplayer sections 455, it will not have any negative performance effects.

In order to complete the charge trap layer sections 455, the charge traplayer 450 should be repaired to replace the silicon dioxide layersremoved by the dry etch. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4F, remainingsilicon dioxide layer 456 a is removed. This is to preventdouble-layering the inner silicon dioxide layer when the silicon dioxideis reformed. The removal of the remaining silicon dioxide layer 456 acan be performed by an oxide wet strip, for example.

As shown in FIG. 4G, once the remaining silicon dioxide layer 456 a isremoved, a new silicon dioxide layer 456 b can be deposited on thesidewall surfaces of the channel holes 445 a and 445 b, as well as thechannel hole bridge 445 c. As with the original deposition, the newsilicon dioxide layer 456 b can be deposited using any of thermalgrowth, ALD, or LPCVD. The deposition of the new silicon dioxide layer456 b effectively completes the charge trap layer sections 455, and maybe continuous between adjacent charge trap layer sections 455.Therefore, the channel hole 445 can be filled with the channel materialto form the channel device 440, as shown in FIG. 4H. Once the channeldevice 440 is formed, the semiconductor device 400 is complete, with thechannel device 440 acting as a first functional element and the gatelayers 460 acting as second functional elements.

With this configuration, it is preferable to use a polysilicon materialfor the gate layers 460, so that the original layered polysiliconmaterial of the stack 401 can be used as the final control gates. Onceagain, the resulting semiconductor device 400 includes memory cells 498(corresponding to overlapping gate layers 460, channel device 440, andcharge trap layer sections 455) with distinct charge trap layer sections455.

It should be noted that although the above description and relatedfigures describes a U-shaped channel, the steps described can similarlybe applied to generate similar configurations in which any number ofchannel columns stem from one or more channel bridges.

Semiconductor Device with Channel Elements

FIGS. 5A-5H illustrate vertical cross-sectional views of an exemplarysemiconductor device 500 at select steps in its manufacture according toan embodiment.

In previous embodiments, gate layers were initially deposited in thestack so as to create independent gate elements for the finalsemiconductor devices. However, in some circumstances, it may bepreferred to instead deposit channel layers in the stack so as to formindependent channel elements in the final semiconductor device. Onereason for this configuration may be to have a common gate element amongseveral memory cells and to allow the gate material for that gateelement to be selected as any desired material. The ability to choose agate material can be useful in many circumstances. Similarly to previousembodiments, a unique layer topography (this time in the channel layers)can be employed to create discrete charge trap layer sections for eachmemory cell, while achieving the desired results.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a plurality of insulating layers 590 and channellayers 540 are disposed in an alternating manner over the substrate 510to form a stack 501. In an embodiment, an insulating layer 590 disposedas a bottommost layer and an uppermost layer of the stack 501. In anembodiment, the insulating layers 590 may be oxide materials, whereasthe channel layers may be a polysilicon material. The polysiliconmaterial may be different from, or the same as the polysilicon materialdescribed above for use as the gate layers 365. However, even when thepolysilicon material is the same as that of the gate layers 365, itnonetheless preferably includes a different doping concentration and/ordopant. A mask 595 is disposed over the uppermost surface of the stack501.

Stack trench 565 a, 565 b, and 565 c are formed in the stack 501, asshown in FIG. 5B. Although this example illustrates three stack trenches565 in order to create two separate substacks, any number of stacktrenches 565 can be created in order to form one or more substacks. Thestack trenches 565 preferably extend to the substrate 510. The stacktrenches 565 can be formed using at least one of lithography and dryetching, as discussed above with respect to the channel hole 345. In anembodiment, a trench may have a continuous slot or line shape in thestack when viewed from above, whereas a hole may have a circular orovular shape.

Once the stack trenches 565 have been formed in the stack 501, thechannel layers 540 are recessed from the stack trenches 565, as shown inFIG. 5C. In other words, edges of the channel layers 540 that areadjacent the stack trenches 565 are set back from the stack trenches 565as compared to the edges of the insulating layers 590. The recessing ofthe channel layers 540 can be performed by a wet etch. The wet etch canemploy, for example, TMAH.

Once the channel layers 540 have been recessed, the charge trap layer550 can be deposited, as shown in FIG. 5D. The charge trap layer 550 mayrepresent an ONO layer having the configuration previously described,with a silicon nitride layer 554 disposed between a first silicondioxide layer 552 and a second silicon dioxide layer 556 a. In anembodiment, the silicon nitride layer 554 is a silicon-rich nitride. Thecharge trap layer 550 can be deposited using any acceptable technique,including thermal growth, ALD, or LPCVD, and should be deposited onelayer at a time. As shown in FIG. 5D, the deposition of the charge traplayer 550 will result in the charge trap layer 550 coating all exposedsurfaces of the semiconductor device, including an uppermost surface,sidewalls of the stack trenches 565, and exposed surfaces of thesubstrate 510.

After depositing the charge trap layer 550 on the exposed surfaces ofthe stack 501, a second etch is performed to the charge trap layer 550at the stack trenches 565. This etch should be a selective anisotropicdry etch in order to remove only the portions of the charge trap layer550 that are not recessed. As shown in FIG. 5E, the charge trap layer550 is removed from the uppermost surface of the stack 501, from exposedsidewalls of the stack trenches 565, and from exposed surfaces of thesubstrate 510. Due to the unique recessed topography of the channellayers 540 of the stack 501 at this step, the etching of the exposedcharge trap layer 550 results in individual charge trap layer sections555 at corresponding channel layers 540.

In order to complete the charge trap layer sections 555, the charge traplayer 550 should be repaired to replace the silicon dioxide layersremoved by the dry etch. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5F, remainingsilicon dioxide layer 556 a is removed. This is to preventdouble-layering the inner silicon dioxide layer when the silicon dioxideis reformed. The removal of the remaining silicon dioxide layer 556 acan be performed by an oxide wet strip, for example.

As shown in FIG. 5G, once the remaining silicon dioxide layer 556 a isremoved, a new silicon dioxide layer 556 b can be deposited on thesidewall surfaces of the gate holes 565. As with the originaldeposition, the new silicon dioxide layer 556 b can be deposited usingany of thermal growth, ALD, or LPCVD. The deposition of the new silicondioxide layer 556 b effectively completes the charge trap layer sections555. Therefore, the stack trenches 565 can be filled with the desiredgate material to form the gate element 560, as shown in FIG. 5H. Oncethe gate element 560 is formed, the semiconductor device 500 iscomplete, with the gate element 560 acting as a first functional elementand the channel layer 540 acting as second functional elements of thesemiconductor device 500. This process again results in memory cells 598(overlapping gate 560, channel layers 540, and charge trap layersections 555) with distinct charge trap layer sections 555. In thisdevice, a NAND device channel 540 is formed along the silicon string,and the NAND gate can be formed by separating gate element 560 intoslices in a direction perpendicular to the NAND string.

Each of the above-described embodiments illustrates different processsteps to achieve different results. However, these differences are notmutually exclusive, but rather can be selectively employed among any ofthe described embodiments. For example, channel layers can be formed inthe U-shaped embodiment to form separate channel elements, etc.

Exemplary Method of Forming a Semiconductor Device with Discrete ChargeTrap Layers

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart diagram of an exemplary method for makinga three-dimensional semiconductor device according to an embodiment.Solely for illustrative purposes, the steps illustrated in FIG. 6 willbe described with reference to semiconductor steps illustrated in FIGS.3A-3H.

In step 610, a plurality of insulating layers 390 and a plurality ofgate layers 365 are initially disposed over a substrate 310 in analternating manner to form a stack 301 (FIG. 3A). The insulating layers390 may have an oxide material, for example. The gate layers 365 may beformed of a nitride material, which acts as a placeholder for a futuregate material, or may be formed of a polysilicon material, which can beused as the gate material directly. In an embodiment, an insulatinglayer 390 is a bottommost and uppermost layer of the stack 301.

In step 620, a photo resist layer 395 is patterned over the uppermostlayer of the stack 301. In step 630, and as shown in FIG. 3B, a channelhole 345 is then formed in the stack 301. The channel hole 345 can beformed using at least one of lithography and dry etching. The dryetching can be performed using any of a number of well-known dry etchingchemicals, including CF₄, CH₂F₂, and CHF₃ to provide some examples.

Although the example of FIG. 3 uses gate layers 365 and a channel hole345 for later forming a channel 340, it will be understood that, in anembodiment, the stack can instead include channel layers (e.g., 540 inFIG. 5A) and a stack trench (e.g., 565 in FIG. 5B) to later become agate element (e.g., 560 in FIG. 5H). In such a configuration, thefollowing method steps applied to the gate layers 365, channel hole 345,and channel device 340 would similarly be applied to the channel layers540, stack trench 565, and gate element 560, respectively.

Continuing with the method, in step 640, once the channel hole 345 hasbeen formed in the stack 301, the gate layers 365 are recessed from thechannel hole 345, as shown in FIG. 3C. In other words, edges of the gatelayers 365 that are adjacent the channel hole 345 are set back from thechannel hole 345 as compared to the edges of the insulating layers 390.One option for recessing the gate layers 365 is by performing a wetetch. The wet etch should be highly selective to target the gate layers365, and can employ any acceptable wet etching chemical known in theart, such as for example hot phosphoric acid to etch SiN, or TMAH toetch silicon.

In step 650, after recessing the gate layers 365, a charge trap layer350 can be deposited on the exposed surfaces of the stack 301, as shownin FIG. 3D. The charge trap layer 350 may represent an ONO layer, whichincludes, for example, a silicon nitride layer 354 disposed between afirst silicon dioxide layer 352 and a second silicon dioxide layer 356a. In an embodiment, the silicon nitride layer 354 can be a silicon-richnitride. The charge trap layer 350 can be deposited using any acceptabletechnique, including thermal growth, atomic layer deposition (ALD), orlow-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), and should be depositedone layer at a time.

In step 660, after depositing the charge trap layer 350 on the exposedsurfaces of the stack 301, a second etch is performed to remove portionsof the charge trap layer 350 that are not contained within the recessedareas of the gate layers 365 of the stack 301. This etch should be ananisotropic dry etch in order to remove only the portions of the chargetrap layer 350 that are not recessed. As shown in FIG. 3E, the chargetrap layer 350 is removed from the uppermost surface of the stack 301,as well as from the channel hole 345. Due to the unique recessedtopography of the gate layers 365 of the stack 301 at this step, theetching of the exposed charge trap layer 350 results in individualcharge trap layer sections 355 at corresponding gate layers 365, whichwill later become control gates 360.

In order to complete the charge trap layer sections 355, the charge traplayer 350 should be repaired to replace the silicon dioxide layersremoved by the dry etch. Therefore, in step 670, and as shown in FIG.3F, remaining silicon dioxide layer 356 a is removed. This is to preventdouble-layering the inner silicon dioxide layer when the silicon dioxideis reformed. The removal of the remaining silicon dioxide layer 356 acan be performed by an oxide wet strip, for example.

In step 680, and as shown in FIG. 3G, once the remaining silicon dioxidelayer 356 a is removed, a new silicon dioxide layer 356 b can bedeposited on the sidewall surfaces of the channel hole 345. As with theoriginal deposition, the new silicon dioxide layer 356 b can bedeposited using any of thermal growth, ALD, or LPCVD. The deposition ofthe new silicon dioxide layer 356 b effectively completes the chargelayer sections 355. Therefore, the channel hole 345 can be filled withthe channel material to form the channel device 340 (690), as shown inFIG. 3H.

As discussed above, the gate layers 365 can be originally formed of apolysilicon material or a nitride material. A benefit of forming thegate layers 365 of a polysilicon material is that the polysiliconmaterial can be used directly as the final control gate elements.Therefore, in step 690, once the channel device 340 is formed, thesemiconductor device 300 is complete.

With this method 600, separate and distinct charge trap layer sectionscan be formed for each memory cell using the recessed gate layertopography. This configuration reduces charge migration within thecharge trap layer to other memory cells and/or areas between memorycells, thereby reducing potential bit errors and/or other memoryfailures.

It should be noted that, although the above method description andrelated figures describe constructing a single column of memory cells ina semiconductor device, the above steps can be repeated for any numberof columns of memory cells.

Those skilled in the relevant art(s) will recognize that the abovemethod 600 can additionally or alternatively include any of the steps orsubsteps described above with respect to FIGS. 3A-3H, as well as any oftheir modifications. Further, the above description of the exemplarymethod 600 should not be construed to limit the description of theapparatus 300 described above.

Exemplary Expanded Method for Forming a Three-Dimensional SemiconductorDevice with Discrete Charge Trap Layers

The method 600 described above provides one example for manufacturing athree-dimensional semiconductor device with discrete charge-trap layers.However, the method 600 of FIG. 6 uses a polysilicon material to formcontrol gates. When another material is desired as the material of thecontrol gates, additional steps should be taken to replace the originalgate layer material with a preferred gate material. In this embodiment,the original gate layer material can be either a polysilicon material ora silicon nitride material.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart diagram 700 of an exemplary expandedmethod 700 of manufacturing a three-dimensional semiconductor deviceaccording to an embodiment. Solely, for illustrative purposes, thefollowing method steps will be described with reference to FIGS. 3I-3L.These method steps of flowchart 700 follow after performance of steps610-690, illustrated in FIG. 6 and described above.

In step 710, in order to access the nitride material, a gate accesstrench 368 is formed in the stack 301, as shown in FIG. 3I. The gateaccess trench 368 should be formed around the channel device 340, with aspacing between the gate access trench 368 and the charge trap layersections in order to provide an area for future gate material to bedeposited. The gate access trench 368 can be formed by a dry etchingprocess, such as described above for forming the channel hole 345.

In step 720, once the gate access trench 368 has been formed, thenitride material can be removed, as shown in FIG. 3J. This can beperformed by a selective wet etching process. In an embodiment, the wetetching includes using a hot phosphoric acid to remove the nitridematerial. In step 730, once the nitride material has been removed, thespaces left behind by the removed nitride material can be filled withthe gate material 362, as shown in FIG. 3K. The gate material 362 can bedeposited using chemical vapor deposition, for example.

As a result of the gate material deposition, gate material 362 may bedeposited on the sidewalls of the gate access trench 368. This isundesired, as it effectively shorts the different gates 360 to eachother. Therefore, in step 740, a subsequent dry etch can be performed toremove the gate material 362 from the sidewalls of the gate accesstrench 368, as shown in FIG. 3L. The remaining gate material 362disposed adjacent the charge trap layer sections each results in acontrol gate 360 for controlling one or more memory cells. Thiseffectively completes the semiconductor device 300.

As noted above, this method 700 allows for separate and distinct chargetrap layer sections to be formed for each memory cell using the recessedgate layer topography. This configuration reduces charge migrationwithin the charge trap layer to other memory cells and/or areas betweenmemory cells, thereby reducing potential bit errors and/or other memoryfailures.

It should be noted that, although the above method description andrelated figures describe constructing a single column of memory cells ina semiconductor device, the above steps in flowchart 700 can be repeatedfor any number of columns of memory cells.

Those skilled in the relevant art(s) will recognize that the abovemethod 700 can additionally or alternatively include any of the steps orsubsteps described above with respect to FIGS. 3A-3H, as well as any oftheir modifications. Further, the above description of the exemplarymethod 700 should not be construed to limit the description of theapparatus 300 described above.

CONCLUSION

It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and notthe Summary and Abstract sections (if any), is intended to be used tointerpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections (if any) may setforth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the invention ascontemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit theinvention or the appended claims in any way.

While the invention has been described herein with reference toexemplary embodiments for exemplary fields and applications, it shouldbe understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Otherembodiments and modifications thereto are possible, and are within thescope and spirit of the invention. For example, and without limiting thegenerality of this paragraph, embodiments are not limited to thesoftware, hardware, firmware, and/or entities illustrated in the figuresand/or described herein. Further, embodiments (whether or not explicitlydescribed herein) have significant utility to fields and applicationsbeyond the examples described herein.

Embodiments have been described herein with the aid of functionalbuilding blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functionsand relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of thedescription. Alternate boundaries can be defined as long as thespecified functions and relationships (or equivalents thereof) areappropriately performed. Also, alternative embodiments may performfunctional blocks, steps, operations, methods, etc. using orderingsdifferent than those described herein.

References herein to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exampleembodiment,” or similar phrases, indicate that the embodiment describedmay include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, butevery embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it would be within the knowledge of persons skilled in therelevant art(s) to incorporate such feature, structure, orcharacteristic into other embodiments whether or not explicitlymentioned or described herein.

The breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited by any ofthe above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A three-dimensional semiconductor device,comprising: a substrate; a first functional element extending verticallyfrom the substrate; a plurality of second functional elements disposedat intervals along the first functional element; and a plurality ofcharge trap layers, each disposed between the first functional elementand a corresponding second functional element, wherein each of thecharge trap layers is separate and discrete from the other charge traplayers.
 2. The three-dimensional semiconductor device of claim 1,further comprising an insulating material disposed between each of thesecond functional elements.
 3. The three-dimensional semiconductordevice of claim 2, wherein the second functional layers are recessedfrom the first functional layer relative to an edge of the insulatingmaterial to create corresponding recesses.
 4. The three-dimensionalsemiconductor device of claim 3, wherein the charge trap layers aredisposed in the corresponding recesses.
 5. The three-dimensionalsemiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the charge trap layers eachcomprise a plurality of layers, and wherein the charge trap layers eachshare at least one, but fewer than all, of the plurality of layers. 6.The three-dimensional semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the firstfunctional element is a channel device, and wherein the secondfunctional elements are control gates.
 7. The three-dimensionalsemiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the first functional element isa control gate, and wherein the second functional elements are channeldevices.
 8. A method of forming a three-dimensional semiconductordevice, the method comprising: forming a stack over a substrate, thestack including a plurality of first functional layers and a pluralityof insulating layers arranged in an alternating manner; forming a holein the stack; recessing the plurality of first functional layers fromthe hole relative to the plurality of insulating layers to form aplurality of corresponding recesses; forming charge trap layers, one ineach of the corresponding recesses, each of the charge trap layers beingseparate and discrete from the other charge trap layers; and forming asecond functional element in the hole.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising patterning a mask over the stack for defining a width of thehole.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the hole is formed in the stacksuch that a material of the first functional layers remains on each sideof the hole after the recessing.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein eachof the charge trap layers includes a plurality of sub-layers.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the forming of the charge trap layersincludes: sequentially depositing each of the plurality of sub-layers onexposed surfaces of the stack within the hole; and removing portions ofthe sub-layers not contained with the recesses;
 13. The method of claim12, wherein the forming of the charge trap layers further includesredepositing at least one, but fewer than all, of the sub-layers on theexposed surfaces of the stack within the hole.
 14. The method of claim8, further comprising replacing a material of the second functionalelements.
 15. A method of forming a three-dimensional semiconductordevice, the method comprising: forming a stack over a substrate, thestack alternately including a plurality of placeholder layers and aplurality of insulating layers; forming a hole in the stack; recessingthe plurality of placeholder layers from the hole relative to theplurality of insulating layers to form a plurality of correspondingrecesses; forming a charge trap layer in each of the correspondingrecesses, each of the charge trap layers being separate and discretefrom the other charge trap layers; forming a first functional element inthe hole; and replacing at least a portion of the placeholder layerswith a functional material to form a plurality of second functionalelements.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the replacing includes:forming a gate access, the gate access being either a trench or a hole;removing the placeholder layers using the gate access hole to creategate spaces adjacent the plurality of charge trap layers; and depositingthe functional material in the gate spaces.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the replacing further includes, removing the functional materialfrom within the gate access.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein amaterial of the placeholder layers is a silicon nitride material. 19.The method of claim 15, wherein the first functional element is achannel device, and wherein the plurality of second functional elementsare control gates.
 20. A method of forming a three-dimensionalsemiconductor device, the method comprising: forming a stack over asubstrate, the stack including a plurality of first functional layersand a plurality of insulating layers arranged in an alternating manner;forming a trench in the stack; recessing the plurality of firstfunctional layers from the trench relative to the plurality ofinsulating layers to form a plurality of corresponding recesses; formingcharge trap layers, one in each of the corresponding recesses, each ofthe charge trap layers being separate and discrete from the other chargePap layers; and forming a second functional element in the trench. 21.The method of claim 20, further comprising patterning a mask over thestack for defining a width of the trench.
 22. The method of claim 21,wherein the trench is formed in the stack such that a material of thefirst functional layers remains on each side of the trench after therecessing.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the charge traplayers includes a plurality of sub-layers.
 24. The method of claim 23,wherein the forming of the charge trap layers includes: sequentiallydepositing each of the plurality of sub-layers on exposed surfaces ofthe stack within the trench; and removing portions of the sub-layers notcontained with the recesses;
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein theforming of the charge trap layers further includes redepositing at leastone, but fewer than all, of the sub-layers on the exposed surfaces ofthe stack within the trench.
 26. The method of claim 21, wherein thefirst functional element is a channel device, and wherein the pluralityof second functional elements are control gates.
 27. The method of claim21, wherein the first functional element is a control gate, and whereinthe plurality of second functional elements are channel devices.